Scouting in South West England
Scouting in South West England is about Scouting activities in the governmental region of South West England. The largest number of Scouts, volunteer leaders and groups are members of the Scout Association of the United Kingdom while there are some traditional Scouting groups such as the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association. The Scout Association administers the region through 7 Scout Counties, overseen by a regional commissioner, which follow the boundaries of the ceremonial counties they exist within. There are six active student associations at various universities in the region, each of which is affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation.
The Scout Association Counties
Avon Scout County
Avon Scout County is concurrent with the former local government county of Avon and provides Scouting to young people in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The county is led by a volunteer management team of seventeen volunteers to support the adult support and youth facing functions of the county. As of 2018, they had 11,560 Scouts aged between 6 and 18 years of age and 3,984 adult volunteers. The county has its organisational headquarters at Woodhouse Park Activity Centre near the Bristol Channel and is divided into nine Scout Districts.Within the County, the former group of the 2nd Bristol Scout Group is notable as one of the founding troops of 1908. There is also a special Scout group at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children which has been running since October 2001 with activities catered to specific limitations of the patients, and are open to any child staying in the hospital and their siblings.
Members of the county wear a badge on their uniform that depicts a Sea Stag, a creature with the head of a stag and the body of a fish that appears on the coat of arms of the former Avon County Council against a white background.
Avon Scout Radio
Avon Scouts is also home to Avon Scout Radio, a Scout Active Support Unit which broadcasts live from its studios in Bristol every day as well as from events around the county and further afield. Its stream is available on the web and runs JOTI Radio, the official radio station of the largest worldwide Scouting event.Cornwall Scout County
Cornwall Scout County covers an area equal to the ceremonial county of Cornwall including the Isles of Scilly. The county is led by a volunteer County Commissioner and a team covering the different activities of the County. The County also has a 'Trust for Scouting in Cornwall' which provides grant assistance and fundraising for projects across the County. It is split into seven districts:Within the County, the former group of the 1st Plymouth Scout Group is notable as one of the founding troops of 1908. Members of the county wear a badge on their uniform that depicts the arms of the Duchy of Cornwall showing a shield with fifteen circles arranged in an inverted triangular pattern with a crown above and the motto of Cornwall 'One and All' underneath on a dark green background.
Devon Scout County
Devon Scout County covers an area equal to the county of Devon and is led by a volunteer County Commissioner and a team of around twenty covering the different activities of the County, both in terms of youth programme and adult support. The County is divided into thirteen administrative districts:Within the County, the 1st North Devon Scout Group is notable as one of the founding troops of 1908. Members of the county wear a badge on their uniform that depicts the shield seen on the coat of arms of Devon County Council with a red lion on a silver background with a crown and a ship and waves above. The lion has links to the 13th century and Richard of Cornwall while the ship refers to the sea and voyagers including Francis Drake.
Dorset Scout County
Dorset Scout County covers the county of Dorset and provides Scouting opportunities for young people and adults in the area. The county's headquarters are located at the County owned activity centre at Buddens Scout Centre The county is led by a team of volunteer managers and trustees covering all aspects of youth programme and adult support and also employ some paid members of staff at the County Office. The county is currently divided into 8 Scout Districts:The County is known for its long history of Scouting with the experimental Scout camp being held on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset, in 1907 and Scout Groups with a long history: the 1st Christchurch, 1st Broadstone and 1st Parkstone are all among the list of groups registered in 1908 in the County. Christchurch District are known for their creative outlets with a Scout and Guide band and Gang Show present in the district. In addition to the regular activities of Scouting, Dorset Scout County operate international expeditions, expeditions to complete the Queen's Scout and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and county events including the County Banner camping competition and the international Jurassic Jamboree in 2018.
Members of Dorset Scout County wear a badge on their uniform that shows the coat of arms of the former Dorset County Council and in the future to belong to the current Dorset Council.
Gloucestershire Scout County
Gloucestershire Scout County covers the political county of Gloucestershire. The county's headquarters has been located at the County owned activity centre at Cranham Scout Centre since 1947 and is manned by a paid county administrator. The county is led by a team of around twenty volunteer managers and trustees covering all aspects of youth programme and adult support divided into four areas matching the Scout Skills for Life strategic plan: Programme, People, Perception and Projects. The current lead volunteer is Mark Spiller, the County Commissioner, and is supported by four deputies, ten assistants and a Youth Commissioner to represent the young people of the County at the highest levels, currently Joshua Netherton. The county is currently divided into 8 Scout Districts:Within the County, the 1st Cheltenham Scout Group is notable as one of the founding troops of 1908. Equally notable for their length of existence is the Gloster Gladiators Scout Band of the 46th Gloucester Scout Group which was formed in 1957.
Members of Gloucestershire Scout County wear a badge on their uniform that shows a sheep fleece, representing the wool trade historic to the area, which is also found on the Coat of Arms of Gloucestershire County Council.
Strategy and Evolution
The County run two large annual events for both Scouts and Guides, called Strategy and Evolution. They were created in 2015 to replace the long-running Sun Run and Malvern Challenge, which announced they were not being continued after 30 years in 2013 and which traditionally took place in the county. The event is run by the Strategy & Evolution Scout Active Support Unit within the County.From 2015 until 2019, Strategy was an event for Scouts and Guides aged 10–14 years based at Cirencester Park. Intended to replace the Malvern Challenge, teams complete a series of challenges over a 3,000-acre area requiring team work and strategic thinking to complete. The 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but from 2021 the event will be opened up to include Explorer Scouts and Rangers up to age 18 as well as the previously included Scouts and Guides with the older ages facing more difficult challenges.
Evolution was originally organised to replace Sun Run and was an event for Explorer Scouts, Senior Section members of Girlguiding, Scout Network and adult leaders between 2015 and 2019. While the event changed each year to keep it a surprise, it centred around a longer hike with fewer larger challenges: the 2019 event saw a 12-mile hike route. Similar to its sister event, the 2020 event was cancelled and from 2021 the event changed to become similar in format to Strategy but instead aimed at Cub Scouts and Brownie Guides.
The event has grown from over 1,200 young people attending the largest event, Strategy, in 2016. to accommodating 3,500 young people across both events in 2019.
Somerset Scout County
Somerset Scout County is the Scout Association county covering the four southern council areas of Somerset; the North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset council areas are served by the Scout County of Avon. The County coordinates and supports over 4,000 young people and 1,000 adult volunteers and is led by a County Commissioner, currently Elizabeth Henderson, and a team of around a dozen deputy and assistant managers. The County office is based out of Tangier Scout and Guide Centre which the county manages jointly with Blackdown Scout District and Taunton and Tone Girlguiding divisions.The county is divided into three Scout Districts on the local level, which was reduced from seven in April 2014 following a restructuring linked to a County strategic plan. These are:
Members of Somerset Scout County wear a badge on their uniform that shows a red dragon rampant on a yellow background which also appears on the Flag of Somerset and on the shield of the Coat of Arms of Somerset County Council.
Wiltshire Scout County
Wiltshire Scout County covers the ceremonial county of Wiltshire. Led by a County Commissioner, Steve Barley as of 2020, and fourteen senior managers and volunteer advisors, the county provides support for leaders and runs events for scouts. The county run the Wiltshire Scout Centre in Potterne which is also the home of the county office.The county is divided into seven Scout Districts for local administrative and supportive purposes.
An eighth district, Salisbury Plain, existed until c.2013 before the groups were split between the neighbouring three districts. Support had been provided by these three districts prior to the merge with district support diminished; one assistant leader in the district was charged with fraud that same year.
Members of Wiltshire Scout County wear a badge on their uniform that shows a white horse galloping to the right against a dark green background, which is seen as an icon of the county.